Railroad car



1- A. CHRISTIANSON 1,835,468

RAILROAD CAR Filed March 19, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Dec; 8, 1931. A. CHRISTIANSON RAILROAD CAR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1929 R O T N E V m 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. CHRISTIANSON RAILROAD CAR Filed March 19, 1929 Dec. 8, 1931.

1931- A. CHRISTIANSON 1,835,463

RAILROAD GAR Filed March 19, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Dec. 8, 1931. A. CHRISTIANSON RAILROAD CAR Filed March 19, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR ill) Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PAT ENTT 0FFIE ANDREW CI-IBISTIANSQN, 0E BUTLm, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR '110 STANDARD STEEL GAR. CORPORATION, QF PITTSBURGH;-PENNSYLVANIA A CORPORATION OF PENN- SYIZVANIA mnoen- Application filed March 19, 1929.. Serial No. 348*,2'76...

This invention relates to railroad cars and more particularly to sleeping cars such, for example, as compartment cars commonly employed on Europeanv railroads,. although it will be apparent that the invention is applicable to other types of sleeping cars.

An object. of this invention is to provide a railroad car of the type set forth having an improved construction and arrangement of convertible seat and sleeping b'erth.

A further object is. to. provide a sleeping car construction capable of being employed either as a first class or a secondclass sleeping compartment.

A further object to provide a combina tion seat and berth which. will be simple in construction,. comfortable in use and cheap to manufacture and assemble.

These and other objects which will be apparent to those skilled in the art are accomplished by means of the invention illustrated in the accompanying' drawings which Fig. 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view showing a seat constructed in accordance with one omlmdiment of this invention. Fig: 2 is asimilar View showing the invention made up as a second class sleeping compartment having upper and lower berths. Fig. is a sirnilar view of certain detailsv of construction. Fig. 4 is a View of one form of supporting brackets employed in connection with the present invention. Fig. 5 is a view'in section taken on line V-V of" Fi 3 showing the hinge construction insection- Fig... 6 is a front view in elevation of a bracket having trunnions thereon which forms one' element of the hinge. Fig. 7 is a view' in side elevation of the hinge element shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 8' is a side view inelevation of a hinge member adapted for mounting on a car wall. Fig. 9 is a view in sidev elevation of a plug embodied in the hinge member shown inFig.

8; 10' is anend vi-ew of the member shown in Fig. 8 viewed from; the left side of said figure- Fig..1l"is,a view in section talien on line Xl-Xfof Fig. Sand Fig. 12 is a bottom'plan View of the hinge member shown in Fig. 8. v

The particularembodiment of the present invention which has-been chosen for the purpose of illustration is shown in connection with a railroad car of the compartment type such as is commonly employed on European railroads andis more familiarly known as lVagon-lit. In this type of car acorridor runs longitudinally along one side and a series o-fcompartm'ents which are entirely separate from each other are provided, each opening onto the long corridor. Each compartment has at least one seat extending crosswise of the car and this seat is made up as a sleeping berth at night. In first class carriages. this is the only'berth, but in second class carriages an upper berth is provided; In the present invention, the construction is such that a; swinging, upholstered box-like frame is associated withthe compartment wall and secured thereto above the seat in such a way as to" permit being positioned above the seat to form a back therefor for day travel. The arrangement is such that the frame can be extended outwardly horizontally from the wall above the seat so as to form an upper berth in case the compartment is in a second class carriage, while it can be swung upwardly against the wall of the compartment into inoperative position when only the lower berth isused.

Th-e'particular embodiment of the present invention which has been chosen for the purposes of' illustration. is shown in connection with a railroad car having a compartment wall and a seat 6. extending along the wall crosswise of the car. The seat is formed by a closed bottom frame 7 which can he lifted into dotted line position shown in Fig; I. to gain access tov a subjacent compartment 8 where bedding or the like can be stored. A. suitable jointed rod support 9 can be employed for the purpose of holding. the seat in raised position. 7

A movable frame 10 is mounted on the wall 5 above the seat 7 and is provided with cushions- 11 so as to. permit their use as a back for the seat 7', see Fig. I, or as an upper berth when the frame is supported in horizontal position as indicated in Fig. 2. When only a lower berth is to he made up, as in the first class compartment, the frame 10 can beswung to. the upper position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 where it is entirely out of the way.

As illustrated, the frame has hinged members, supporting brackets or hangers 12 se cured to each inner corner thereof and each hanger has outwardly extending trunnions or pins 13 slidably received in a pocket 14 formed in the adjacent face of an associated bracket 15, mounted on the partition or wall 5. The recess 14 in each stationary supporting bracket is shaped as shown with an arcuate outer wall or face 14 to permit the frame 10 to hang downwardly against a stop 17 or the like so as to form a back for the seat 7, or to be supported in horizontal position as shown in Fig. 2 by means of pivoted supporting and vertically depending links 18 secured to suitable brackets 19 in the outer corners of the frame and hung from hooks 20 or brackets 21 secured to the end walls of the compartment. When-so supported the frame provides an upper berth. The frame 10 can also be swung upwardly to the out of the way position indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3 to permit the seat 7 to be made up as a berth, where an upper berth is not desired. Any suitable form of catch or latch (not shown) can be employed to hold it in this latter position.

The shape. of the recess 14, in each sup porting stationary bracket or hanger 12, is of geometric quadrant form, that is, it corresponds to a figure formed by two radii at right angles to each other connected by an arc of the circle between them. Due to this particular shape, the frame 10 can be swung to three different positions about only two edges of the faces, namely, 3836, 3637, or in other words, about each of the two radii that at one end terminate in a right angle and at the other end terminate in the arc of a circle of a curved segment 14.

For easein assembling, each bracket 15 is provided with a slot 25 extending inwardly to the pocket 14 from the front face of the bracket so as to permit the trunnions 13 to be inserted through the slot into the pocket. The latter can then be closed by a suitable plug 26 shaped to fit within the slot, having the inner wall formed so as to become a part of the arcuate face of the pocket.

In Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive, the hinge construction for the frame 10 is shown in detail. The frame 10 as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 is pivotally mounted on the wall 5 by means of the hinges disposed at the sides of the frame and adjacent to the inner corners thereof. Each hinge comprises a 1 bracket 15 having a pocket or recess 14. The pockets 14, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8, are of quadrant shape bounded by a segmental or arcuate wall 14'. The brackets 15 have a depending leg orfiange 27 and an upstanding flange or leg 28 disposed to lie flush against the Wall 5. The bracket 15 may be secured to the wall 5 by means of screws or rivets 29. The brackets or hangers 12 are illustrated in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. The brackets 12 comprise a body or plate portion 31 disposed to lie along the side of the frame 10, having spaced trunnions or pins 13. When the frame 10 is in horizontal position, the trunnions or pins 13 lie in substantially the same vertical plane and are substantially parallel to the wall 5. The brackets or hangers 12 are provided with arcuate flanges 32 so shaped that they fit the rounded end of the frame 10 which is adjacent to the wall 5. The brackets or hangers 12 may be secured to the ends of the frame 10 by means of rivets or other suitable means. As shown the plate portion 31 is provided with a plurality of apertures 33 through which rivets or screws may extend for securing the plate portion to the sides of the frame 10. The flange 32 is provided with apertures or holes 34 through which screws or rivets may pass to secure the flange to the bottom of the frame 10 at the rounded inner corners.

In practice the brackets 01. hangers 12 are attached to the frame 10. To mount the frame 10 on the wall the trunnions 13 of the brackets or hangers 12 are passed through the opening or passageway 25 formed in the bracket 15 and into the pockets 14. The opening or passageway 25 may then be closed by the plug 26 which is provided at its inner end with a arcuate surface 26 which conforms to the curvature of the segmental are surface 14 which bounds the quadrant cavities 14. The plug 26 may be secured in place by means of screws 34 or any other suitable means.

hen the frame 10 is in the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the trunnions 13 occupy the positions indicated by numerals 36 and 37 in Fig. 8 of the drawings and when the frame 10 occupies a vertical position above the hinges, the trunnions occupy the positions indicated by numerals 38 and 36. lVhen the frame 10 is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which position the frame 10 forms a back for the seat 6, the trunnions 13 occupy the positions indicated by numerals 36 and 38 in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

As shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings, the brackets 15 are provided with a rib 39 which is disposed to lie along the wall 5. This rib may be disposed to lie either along the wall or in a groove (not shown) to thereby aid in aligning said brackets when mounting them on the wall. As shown in Fig. 3, however, the rib 39 lies along the wall thereby providing a space 40-between the wall and the adjacent portion 41 of the bracket. This space may be filled with shims or other suitable material to properly align these brackets when mounted on the wall.

l/Vhen the frame 10 is hung downwardly thecushions 11, which have a joint 22 as will be understood, have the lower edge thereof lifted away from the frame 10 so as to permit the cushions to drop downwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 1. A fiexible cover or sup-port 23 connects the upper edge of the cushions to the upper end of the frame 10 and serves to cover the space formed by the dropping of the cushions downwardly and also acts as a support for the upper portion of the cushion above the join-t 22.

It will be apparent that various changes,

additions, omissions and substitutions can be made in the particular construction illustrated and described without departing from the spirit of this invention or'the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. The combination in a railroad car of a movable, boxlike frame supported on a car wall, a seat positioned below said frame, and a cushion removably supported within said frame and means permitting said cushion to be lowered with relation to said frame to form a back for said seat.

' 2. The combinationin a railroad car of a boxlilze frame pivotally supported. on a car wall, a seat positioned below said frame, a cushion removably supported within said frame to permitsaid cushion to be lowered with relation to said frame into engagement with the seat to form a back for said seat and flexible suspension means for limiting the lowering movement of said cushion with relation to said frame.

3. The combination in a railroad car of'a movable boxlike frame supported on a car wall, a seat positioned below said frame, a cushion supported within said frame and formed so as tohave the lower edge thereof free from said frame to perm-it said cushion to be lowered with relation to said frame to form a back for said seat and flexible means connecting the top of said cushion to the top of said frame so as to form a support for said cushion and a cover for the space between the top of said cushion and said frame when said cushion is in lowered position.

4. The combination in a railway car of a sleeoing berth including a compartment, a seat member pivotally supported on the wall of said compartment and being disposed for forming a seat back in one positip n, for forming an upper berth in another position, and for resting inope 'atively in a third position, said pivotal support including a stationary member secured to the wall of the car having geometrically shaped quadrant recess therein, a bracket member secured to said seat member and being provided with trunnions, said trunnions being positioned within the recess of the stationary member so that said trunnions will be pivoted against only two sides of said recess when in any one of the three positions.

5QT-he combinationi-n a railway car of a sleeping berth including a compartment, a seat member pivotally supported against .a wall thereof, said seat member being disposed to form a bacir for another scatmember in one position, for forming an upper berth inanother, and for resting inoperatively in a third position, said pivotal support includinga stationary member adapted to be secured to the wall and having a geometrically shaped quadrant recess therein, bracket member adapted to be secured to said first mentioned seat member and being provided with extending trunn ions, sa id bracket member cooperating with the of said tionary member, one of said trunnions providing a support at a point adjacent to the wall and another of said trunnions providin g a pivotal support at a point removed from the wall when said first mentioned seat memoer is rone position, said trunnions having an alternate position with respect to the above position when said first mentioned seat member is in another position.

(SVThe combination in a, railway car, of a sleeping berth including a compartment, a seat member pi-votally supported on the wall of said compartment, and being disposed for forming a seat back in one position, for forming an upper berth in another position, and for restin inoperatively in a third position, s id pivot sruport including stationary members secured in a spaced relation to the wall of'the car, the spaced relation corresponding tothe width of the back of said 'seat'member, said stationary member having geoiiiet""c.ally shaped quadrant recess therein, bracket members having a rounded flange for securing to rounded corners of said seat member, each of said bracket members having spaced trunnions entending therefrom for cooperating with the edges of the recess of one of said stationary members. V

7'. The combination in a railway car, of a sleepin berth including a compartn'ient, a seat member pivotally supported on the wall of said compartment and being dis posed for forming a seat back in one position and an upper berth in another position, said pivot support including stationary members secured in spaced relation to the wall of the car, the'spaced relation corresponding to the width of the back of said seat member, bracket members having spaced trunnions extending therefrom and being secured to the back ends of said seat member, each of said stationary members having a geometrically shaped quadrant l cess therein for receiving the spaced trunnions of given bracket member therein, eacn of said stationary members having an end passageway to the recess therein, so that the trunnions of a given bracket can enter into the recess when each bracket and its corresponding stationary member are in abutting relationship, and means for closing said passageway after the trunnions have entered therethrough.

8. The combination in a railway car, of a sleeping berth including a compartment, a subjacent compartment, a lower seat member having a closed bottom pivotally disposed to extend outwardly from the wall of said first mentioned compartment and to rest on the top of said subjacent compartment, and a ointed rod means positioned between said subjacent compartment and said lower seat member for holding the latter in raised position.

9. A pivotal hinge member for supporting a seat frame member which includes a stationary member adapted for mounting on a wall, a bracket member adapted for mounting on the frame, said stationary member having a recess therein forming two radii at an angle to each other connected by an arc of a circle, said bracket member having spaced trunnions extending therefrom and being disposed to cooperate with the edges of said stationary member opposite the retherein.

10. A pivotal hinge for supporting a seat frame member of a vehicle which includes stationary members adapted for spaced mounting on a wall, bracket members adapted for spaced mounting on said frame, each of said stationary members having a recess therein of geometrically quadrant form, each of said bracket members having spaced trunnions extending therefrom, each set of trunnions being disposed for cooperation with the edges of the recess of a corresponding stationary member, so that said. frame member may be moved to seat-back, upper berth and inoperative positions.

11. A pivotal hinge for supporting a seat frame member of a vehicle which includes a stationary member adapted for mounting on a wall, a bracket member adapted for mounting on said frame member, said stationary men ber having a recess therein formed by radii at right angles to each other and joined by an arc of a circle, said bracket member having outwardly projecting (spaced) trunnions, said trunnions being adapted for mounting in said recess for cooperating with the edges of the said stationary member adjacent thereto, one of said trunnions providing a support for the seat frame at a point adjacent to the wall, another of said trunnions providing a support for the frame at a point removed from the wall when the frame is in one position, said trunnions alternating positions when the frame is moved to another position, one of said trunnions providing a support for the frame at a point adjacent to its base and both points adjacent to the wall when the back is in a third position.

12. The combination in a railway car of a sleeping berth including a compartment, a seat member pivotally supported on the wall of said compartment and disposed for forming a seat back in one position, for forming an upper berth in another position, and for resting inoperatively in a third position, said pivotal support including a stationary member secured to the wall of a car having a geometrically shaped quadrant recess therein, a bracket member having a rounded flange for securing to rounded corners of said seat member and being provided with trunnions, said trunnions being positioned within the recess of the stationary member, so that said trunnions will be pivoted against two sides of said recess when in any one of the three positions.

13, The combination in a railway car, of a sleeping berth including a compartment, a seat member pivotally disposed on the wall of said compartment, and being disposed for forming a seat back in one position, for forming an upper berth in another position and for resting inoperatively in a third position, said pivot including stationary members socured in a spaced relation to the wall of the car, the spaced relation corresponding to the width of the back of said seat member, said stationary member having a geometrically shaped quadrant recess therein, bracket members having a rounded flange for securing to rounded corners of said seat member, each of said brackets cooperating with the recess of the associated stationary member, said brackets being provided with trunnions, one of said trunnions providing a support at a point adjacent to the wall and another of said trunnions providing a support at a point removed from the wall when the first mentioned seat member is in one position, said trunnions having an alternate position with respectto the above position when said first mentioned seat member is in another position.

14. A pivotal hinge member for supporting a seat frame member which includes a stationary member adapted for mounting on a wall, a bracket member adapted for mounting on the frame, said stationary member having a recess therein forming two radii at an angle to each other and connected by an arc of a circle, said bracket member having spaced trunnions extending therefrom and being disposed to cooperate with the edges of said stationary member opposite the recess therein, said stationary member having an end passageway to the recess therein, so that the trunions of a given bracket can enter into the recess when each bracket and its corresponding stationary member are in abutting relationship, and means for closing said passageway after trunnions have entered therethrough.

15. The combination in a railway car of a movable box-like frame supported on a car wall, a seat positioned below said frame and a cushion supported Within said frame, and means permitting said cushion to be lowered with relation to said frame to form a back for said seat, and means connecting the top of said cushion to the top of said frame and forming a support for said cushion and a cover for the space between the top of said cushion and said frame when said cushion is in lowered position.

16. A pivotal hinge member which includes a mountable member having a recess therein of gometrically quadrant form, a mountable bracket member having trunnions extending therefrom and being disposed to cooperate with the edges of said first mentioned mountable member opposite the recess therein.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 16th day of March,

ANDREW CHRISTIANSON. 

